Amid coronavirus crisis, Mayor Lori Lightfoot signs order ensuring city benefits for immigrants living in US without legal permission

Mayor Lori Lightfoot signed an executive order Tuesday that she said will ensure Chicago immigrants living in the country without legal permission receive all city benefits, opportunities and services, though the rule essentially reiterates existing law.

The city’s Welcoming City Ordinance passed under former Mayor Rahm Emanuel already prohibits benefits, opportunities or services from being conditional on a person’s citizenship.

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Lightfoot noted her order ensures immigrants also have the opportunity to apply for one-time $1,000 grants to help residents who have suffered financially due to the coronavirus outbreak with rent and mortgage payments, online learning resources for students and money from the city’s Small Business Resiliency Fund.

“Our city is a city of immigrants, built by immigrants, enriched by immigrants, and we will always stand with our immigrant communities, no matter what,” Lightfoot said.

As mayor, Lightfoot has made a point of supporting immigrant communities, personally handing out “know your rights” flyers over the summer when President Donald Trump first announced large-scale ICE raids. But she’s also faced criticism from activists who want her to do more, including a rewrite of the Welcoming City Ordinance to eliminate certain loopholes.